Wynford Dore

After becoming aware of research into how skills are developed in the brain – driven by professors from Harvard Medical School and Roderick Nicolson of Sheffield University, Dore saw an opportunity to help his severely dyslexic daughter Susie, who had become increasingly depressed and suicidal and by her early twenties had tried to take her own life three times.[6]

Dore took on medical and other specialists to test the cerebellar deficit hypothesis of dyslexia. Several research papers were peer reviewed and published showing encouraging results.

In early 2002, the Dore Programme was featured on UK primetime television, leading to an increase in demand.[7]

Between 2006 and 2007, Dore opened 11 clinics,[2] known as Dore Achievement Centres.[7] At the clinics, people with dyslexia, ADHD and dyspraxia followed a programme of exercises designed to stimulate the cerebellum.[2] Dore claimed that his programme has a success rate of over 80%.[8]

Dore's methods proved highly controversial with experts in the conditions that he claimed to have found a cure for.[9] Two papers were published in the academic journal Dyslexia based on a study utilising exercise as an intervention among a sample of schoolchildren in England. The publication of the first paper in 2003 led to the resignation of one member of the Editorial Board, while the second paper prompted five resignations.[7] The study was criticised for including no control group.[10] Potential conflicts of interest were also identified by journalists, including Dore Achievement Centres paying the first author of the study £30,000.[10]

An article in the Journal of Paediatric Child Health argued that the published research evidence does not support the claims made by Dore and his supporters.[7] One flaw of the research identified in the paper is that the participants are not diagnosed with dyslexia.[7]

Australian TV network ABC TV's Four Corners progamme ran an expose that alleged a lack of scientific grounding for Dore's treatments, which reportedly led to a 50% decrease in revenue.[2]

In May 2008 the DDAT company (Dyslexia Dyspraxia Attention Treatment), which operated the clinics, went into liquidation in the UK.[11]"The Dore Group", operating 13 Australian clinics in, went into voluntary administration in june 2008.[2] 175 staff were made redundant as a result.

Dore currently has a number of other business interests. In 1999 he bought Arnold Lodge School in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, with his cousin Gareth Newman, CBE.

Arnold Lodge is a co-educational independent school with 300 pupils, ranging from nursery-aged to Sixth Form pupils aged 18. In 2020, the school was shortlisted for the Times Educational Supplement award of Senior School of the Year.

In 1999 he partnered with Newman, a retired headmaster who was once an advisor on education to the Government,[12] believed that the key to motivating children was allowing them to set their own targets, with their progress being monitored regularly.[13]

Keen for other children to benefit from the same technique, Dore developed online test software that could be rolled out and used at all schools up and down the country.

This product went on to become Education Development International plc, the 4th largest examination board in the UK that provides online tests and assessments for schools, vocational entities and professional organisations.

In 2011 it was sold to Pearson plc, the world's largest education company.[14]

Dore is the former co-owner and director of Brigade Clothing, a major supplier of quality school-wear.[5]